AME Shortage

[Optimus Primer]

Did a bunch of AMEs disappear recently? Almost every ad I've seen posted the past week has been for AMEs. Anyone know the reason for the sudden demand?

I'm clearly on the wrong side of the industry.

[FrozenWrench]

Since I was in school, which granted was only 5 years ago, we were told that there was an AME shortage coming and it will hit hard before the industry can recover. I did not think it would happen this fast but in the industry I have been seeing the change happen far more drastically then expected. The old senior guys with all the knowledge are leaving and all that is left are the young punks that know just enough to be dangerous and do not have the advantage of the old guys pointing them in the right direction. The next batch of engineers will be a long time in the making and the newer ones do not seem to have much confidence yet to fill the void. Not sure where I was going with this but that is my two cents on this.

[Flybabe]

I don't know. I wonder if it's the same issue as with pilots - it's getting tough to find an *experienced* AME.

I know of one in Edmonton that's an apprentice, but with 5 years component overhaul experience (FAA Repairman). Can't even get an interview.
Problem is lack of opportunity in YEG, and moving isn't an option.

[Meecka]

The old senior guys with all the knowledge are leaving and all that is left are the young punks that know just enough to be dangerous and do not have the advantage of the old guys pointing them in the right direction. The next batch of engineers will be a long time in the making and the newer ones do not seem to have much confidence yet to fill the void. Not sure where I was going with this but that is my two cents on this.

Wow dude. I happen to be one of those "left". And I can assure you I am far from dangerous. Before you paint all of us leftovers with the same brush try to remember that there are folks in between the oldtimers and the green guys. I've got 12 years in this buisness, 10 of which as a Licensed AME.


As to the question of the thread, I don't think its just retirement that is the issue, as I said, there are plenty of us mid-way in our careers, I've seen plenty of guys deciding to change what they do for a living.

[chowda]

The only ames I know looking for work are looking at getting out of aviation. Nobody is interested in stepping sideways or backwards anymore, which is what most of the ads are for experienced guys.
So yeah, there probably is a shortage, but the industry itself is responsible for it.

[FrozenWrench]

Wow dude. I happen to be one of those "left". And I can assure you I am far from dangerous. Before you paint all of us leftovers with the same brush try to remember that there are folks in between the oldtimers and the green guys. I've got 12 years in this buisness, 10 of which as a Licensed AME..

My apologizes, I believe I left that thought unfinished by not mentioning the very group you are apart of. I know you guys are still around and I am very grateful for that as the knowledge is there to help us young guys and green guys get better. Sorry to offend. And now back to the topic at hand.

[Badfarmer]

Being in the maintenance industry for 20+ yrs, i have noticed a shortage of AMEs these past 5 or so years.
The problem is simple, very much like pilots; the wages are terrible. With the boom in the Alberta economy, what is the incentive?
Ive worked for all parts of aviation except airlines, but have known many airline AMEs. The industry demands a level of dedication and loyalty, but does not reciprocate. Its very much like the 'Ice Pilots' tv show; we are poorly thought of, the last to be asked to help, and is just a grease monkey.
No one that i know in any other 'maintenance' industry is paid so poorly and treated as a liability. Until commercial operators treat us better, i think things will decline.

[Pat Richard]

No one that i know in any other 'maintenance' industry is paid so poorly and treated as a liability. Until commercial operators treat us better, i think things will decline.

+1

[fixnfly]

I agree. Just in the past 3 months there has been a huge surge in AME job vacancies. I know of a couple places that have a really difficult time finding licensed guys with job postings only bringing in 10 or so applicants; some not even from this country or just simply new apprentices. Its a good time to be an AME.

[Pat Richard]

good time to be a AME

not really, because nothings really changed, just that theres very little competition for mediocre/crap positions.
Its not like companies generally are offering incentives or increasing rates of pay in response to the lack of interest there postings generate.
Bleating on about "being an outdoorsman's paradise" "and being member of the team" as several of the ads do, is not fooling anybody with experience that something fantastic awaits.
My prediction is next to nothing will change. You will just see more mediocre/shitty postings(the usual) more often as more experienced AME's continue to drift away and/or aviation gets busier.

There is no shortage of experienced AME's. There is a shortage of CHEAP experienced AME'S.

[fixnfly]

There is no shortage of experienced AME's. There is a shortage of CHEAP experienced AME'S.

I agree with you there Pat; there will always be a shortage of experienced AMEs that will work for poverty wages. But I find companies are continually increasing their pay scale. NCA for example starts guys off at $32 an hour. http://www.linkedin.com/jobs2/view/10355123. This allows them to continue to operate with experienced guys while many other companies are forced to bring up their payscale or else continue to struggle finding anyone to work for them (Sunwest or CMA or even Premier in Windsor for example). And they deserve to struggle for what they offer to licensed guys. With the amount of companies currently looking for AMEs, the smart ones will offer above industry standard wages to attract and keep the few experienced AMEs that are left in this industry. And I agree that there are just not that many experienced guys any more.

[Pat Richard]

I really hope you're right. but it just hasn't really happened in the past, and you have companies recently like Encore, CMA, and Premier{known bottom feeders)paying around $25 as there maximum ACA pay.
Aircraftworks, along with NCA in YYC are the only ones I've heard of being proactive/realistic with their offerings, not to mention nice facilities.


I'd love to be 100% wrong in my outlook, so I guess it's wait and see.

[acidgambit]

Places that I know pays decent and have buddies working there are Air Canada, Air Jazz, Westjet, NCA, Canadian North, First Air, Discovery Air.

It seems to me that the norm wage for signing out planes is 26 dollars per hour to start. Which is freaken stupid. Barely have enough money to feed yourself after paying the rent.

[boeingboy]

Sunwest pays more than that - $33/hr and they have great benefits.

[Fixinplanes08]

LOTS of experienced licensed AME's out there.. Seems most of us are finally answering the call.. None of this $25/hr crap, I'll go twist the same snap-on wrench I paid for on a front loader.. Sure, I may get a little dirty, but I'll bring home an extra 30k a year.. Easily

[TBM3E]

I've been a licensed AME since 1990, M2 and M1. Five endorsements. Good references. Been trying for months to find a job. I'm down to the wire now. If nothing happens this week I'm heading to the Alberta oil patch.

[Rowdy]

Interesting. I had a good discussion with a friend two weeks ago who was an M1 with lots of helo experience and ratings. He left the industry to work as a realtor and is now making triple what he was spinning wrenches. No more working shifts, and isn't running his bag off as a realtor either.

We all need to band together here to improve standards and pay industry wide. Pilots, AME's, CSA's and dispatchers.. I'm sure we can not only improve the industry, but our own lives as well.

[brooks]

Please stick to posters board identity
Bandaid

[Meecka]

I've been a licensed AME since 1990, M2 and M1. Five endorsements. Good references. Been trying for months to find a job. I'm down to the wire now. If nothing happens this week I'm heading to the Alberta oil patch.

I was in a similar boat when I lost my job back in Febuary. Sent out applications, there are lots of places looking for AME's. The problem, in my oppinion, is that companies don't really want to hire those of us with 10 plus years of experience. Lots of the job adds I saw wanted an experience level of 5 years or less. The simple truth is companies know we are going to want a half decent wage, and they aren't willing to pay it. I got lucky, and managed to find something to pay the bills. Its by no means an ideal situation, waiting to see if I'm gonna get renewed every 3 months, but its better than nothing.

TBM best of luck man.